Clean Cities Success: UC Davis

3.14.2013

Our Success Story this week takes us to Northern California’s UC Davis, a pioneer in alternative fuel vehicle research. Here, a wide variety of alt-fuel vehicles roam the campus; from compressed natural gas buses, to numerous plug-in hybrid conversions, to this Scion eBox EV—with an electric motor filling in for the original gas engine. Electrified vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, are studied by the Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Research Center. The PHEV Center evaluates consumer behaviors, vehicle technologies, batteries and charging station needs, and even helps develop dashboard displays to make electric driving more practical.

RICHARD BATTERSBY: At UC Davis, obviously we’re concerned about the environment and sustainability…we don’t just do research and make recommendations—we do it ourselves.

JOHN DAVIS: Indeed, you’ll find nearly 30 charging stations in and around the campus. With their pioneering past, UCDavis strives to clear the road for a more promising plug-in electric car future.